Improvement in elastic frog-pads



G. W. PHILLIPS.

ELASTIC FROG-PAD.

No.179,952. Emma Ju1y18,1876.

Witnesses; Inventor;

PETERS. PHOTO-'LJTHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D G.

ED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE.

GEORGE W. PHILLIPS, OF ROCHESTER, ASSIGNOR OF PART OF HIS RIGHT TO WILLIAM E. NEER, OF SAME PLACE, AND CYRUS A. PHILLIPS, OF

STERLING, NEIV YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN ELASTIC FROG-PADS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 179,952, dated July 18, 1876; application filed January 15, 187.6.

vented a certain new and useful Improvement I in Elastic Frog-Pads; and that the following is a full and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, sufficient to enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to construct and make use of the invention, reference being had to the drawings accompanying this specification, and to the figures and letters of reference marked thereon, in which like letters refer to like parts throughout the same, and on which Figure l'represents the ground face of the invention. Fig. 2 represents the edge of the invention.

The frog of a horses foot, together with thehoof, in their natural condition, bear directly on the ground, from which fact it is evident that the normal function of the frog is to bear a proportional share of the horses weight, in doing which the foot is preserved in a healthy condition, but in the application of shoes to his feet both the hoof and frog are alike raised from the ground, by which, although the wall rests on the shoe,it is wholly deprived ofits natural expansion and contraction, and the frog of its normal function.

The'object of my invention is to provide a means'for the frog'to bear its proportion of weight, by which the hoof is kept in a healthy condition, and when traveling over rough roads to prevent concussion, by which lameness is avoided.

It consists in a slightly-vulcanized rubber and cloth pad, occupying the space between the heels of the hoof, lying across and protecting the frog, and having wings extending toward the toe far enough to receive through each a couple of nails, by which the pad is retained in position, and nipples at the heel on each side for the same object.

In the drawing, P represents the slightlyhardened rubber and cloth pad of an oblong bulbous shape, having flat tapered wings 1) extending toward the toe, thereby assisting,

when nailed to the hoof, in securing it against sidewise displacement. Near to the heel, on each side of the shoe-face of the pad, are the nipples n for entering corresponding cavities in the foot-surface of the shoe, thereby retaining the pad in place, both in the act and after applying the shoe to the foot. But these nipples are an optional attachment, and I use the pad both with or without the nipples.

In applying the invention to use, the pad is applied to the shoe, plain face outward, taking care to adjust the wings to the edge of the shoe and the nipples to the cavities, so that in nailing it to the animals foot each willreceive a couple of nails, which, with the nipples, prevents lateral displacement of the pad. The shoe is then nailed to the foot in the usual manner, completing the invention for use. I

Its advantages are threefold, viz: the frog bears its proportion of the horses weight, securing thereby a healthy action to the same; jars and concussions from rough roads are prevented; and slipping on smooth pavements is avoided.

What I claim as my invention, and for which I solicit Letters Patent, is

An elastic frog-pad, consisting of the oblong bulbous rubber and cloth pad P, having the flat tapered wings b, and with or without the nipples-n applied in the manner and for the purposes substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto, in presence of these two'witnesses, subscribed my name on this llth day of January, A. D. 

